One of the best new features of Windows 8 is the “refresh your PC” feature, where you can return your system to a like-new state. Unfortunately, even though the refresh will keep your files and personalization settings as well as apps from the Windows Store, it will remove all other (non-Metro) programs. You can fix this by creating a custom refresh image.

How-To Geek has a guide to doing just that. The process basically involves running the Command Prompt as an administrator and using the recimg.exe utility to create your snapshot. The image will contain all your installed apps and your tweaked settings, and then you can refresh your PC to reload Windows and start, well, fresh again without having to reformat.